Although programmatic direct solutions – which automate direct relationships between sellers and buyers – started cropping up around six years ago, growth has been slow. But that’s likely to change. eMarketer predicts automated direct deals will grow from $800 million this year to more than $8 billion in 2017, which would make programmatic direct 42% […]

1. John Lewis, John Lewis Southampton Impossible to knowingly undersell, this clever campaign promoted new departments at the John Lewis store in Southampton. As the biggest store in the city s West Quay development is close to the Solent, it s appropriate that the trio of executions should have a nautical flavour. And it was a neat idea to link it with John Lewis products. Thus wedges of cheese become yacht sails, lamps are transformed into a galleon and lipsticks morph into a liner. Agency: Adam Eve/DDB Creatives: Alex Lucas, Jon Farley 2. Public Health England, The Blood Pressure Drop In, Wakefield A high-impact execution in the most literal sense and a graphic illustration of the effect of letting high blood pressure go undiagnosed and untreated. This print campaign was used to promote a pilot scheme encouraging people aged 40 and over to visit one of more than 50 blood-pressure drop-ins in and around Wakefield. The West Yorkshire city was chosen because almost a third of adults living there were estimated to have high blood pressure. Agency: M C Saatchi Creatives: Chris Ross-Kellam, Bill Gallagher 3. Care For The Wild International, badger cull An ad featuring a harrowing image of a badger with a gun to its head has been spearheading a shock campaign by Care For The Wild International to stop the badger cull taking place in Somerset and Gloucestershire. The wildlife charity claims the cull won t work, is inhumane and is unnecessary. Reports suggest that the last cull, which ended in October, failed with shooters far behind the required number of kills. Agency: JWT London Creative: Claudia Southgate 4. Aldi, Wine Rooney Eight years on, nobody has forgotten the image of the Nike poster featuring a screaming Wayne Rooney drenched in red paint. So no football fan was going to be confused by the iconic imagery evoked by McCann Manchester to promote Aldi s alcohol sales during this summer s World Cup in Brazil. The image was also a nod to the outstretched arms of Christ the Redeemer, which towers over Rio de Janeiro. Agency: McCann Manchester Creatives: Clive Davies, Andy Fenton 5. Scottish government, blue light An apposite piece of work from Leith given the Scottish government s decision to dramatically lower the drink-drive limit from 5 December. The ad features a simple image reminding people of that terrible feeling of seeing a blue light in their mirror. About one in ten deaths on Scotland s roads are said to involve over-the-limit drivers. Now the government has reacted by reducing the drink-driving limit from 80mg to 50mg per 100ml of blood. Agency: Leith Creatives: Chris Watson, Rufus Wedderburn 6. Citro n C1 , love your city In the nine years since Citro n teamed with Toyota to build the C1 a small city car for Europe competition in the sector has gone into overdrive with rivals such as the Volkswagen Up!, Skoda Citago and Hyundai i10 entering the fray. This series of ads, under the theme "naturally urban", seeks to encourage potential buyers to love the C1 s quirky design just as much as they embrace city life. These ads showcase the car against models of the city skylines of Manchester, Liverpool and London. Agency: Havas Worldwide London Creatives: Gareth Gray, Sam Shepherd 7. Renault, success booster Competition in the light commercial vehicle sector has also grown much hotter since the first Renault Trafic rolled off the production line in 1981. Although the model has been the top-selling vehicle of its kind in Europe for 14 years, newer arrivals offer stern challenges. This print ad aims to do its bit to keep the Trafic ahead of the competition by featuring its role in helping Bob the electrician keep Blackpool s Golden Mile fully illuminated. Agency: Publicis London Creatives: Dave Sullivan, Jamie Marshall 8. First Great Western, building a greater west This campaign promoting First Great Western s 7.5 billion investment programme was never going to be an easy ride for McCann London. The train company has a reputation for lateness, cancellations and overcrowding with more disruption to follow while the work takes place. Meanwhile, the TSSA rail union has called on the Advertising Standards Authority to investigate "bogus" ad claims. An appropriate time, perhaps, to evoke the spirit of Isambard Kingdom Brunel, whose Great Western line was hailed as a wonder of the modern world. Agency: McCann London Creative: Mike Oughton 9. B Q, Penrith store opening Opened in June, the 41,000-square-feet B Q superstore in Penrith stands just a flying buttress throw away from the ruins of the town s 14th-century castle. So it was a neat idea to link the offering from Britain s largest home-improvement retailer with the DIY possibilities at the castle, which has assumed something of a distressed look since it was built as a defence against Scottish raiders. Agency: WCRS Creatives: Miles Stubbs, Sheridan Lord 10. St Austell Brewery, South West rugby sponsorship The St Austell-brewed Tribute is one of the region s favourite beers and this ad reinforces the St Austell Brewery s sponsorship of South West rugby in which a half-full pint glass is transformed into rugby posts. Agency: Bray Leino Creatives: Scott Franklin, Henry Challender

"Data-Driven Thinking" is written by members of the media community and contains fresh ideas on the digital revolution in media. Today’s column is written by Joe Prusz, head of mobile at Rubicon Project. In 2013, many observers marveled at the growth in mobile users. If 2013 was the year of mobile adoption, mobile advertising moved […]